CHAPTER 14
CALM BEFORE THE STORM
*Dear Diary,
It is now the day before Halloween and I am sitting here alone in my room waiting for Ron to get back from Quiditch practice. Everything is working out with us now, I really think he is the one. We aren't even officially together yet but we may as well be, we are together most of the time and although all we have done is kiss so far I can tell that I am ready to go further with him. Ginny and Harry are doing great too, they sleep in the same bed every night and although Ginny tells me that they haen't done anything yet I really think that she wants too. I'm not saying she's easy or anything its just that she loves Harry with all her heart and wants to show him just how special he is to her. Speaking of sleeping in the same rooms, Ron has been sleeping in with me most nights as well, it feels great to cuddle up with him and fall to sleep in his arms.
I feel alot better now than I did on the night of the attacks in Hogsmeade, partly because I have Ron now, and he swears he'll keep me safe no matter what. But the weird thing is that, not a trace of the Death Eaters can be found. Dumbledore has even suggested that they weren't even real Death Eaters, just copy cats because they didn't sent the Dark Mark into the sky and also if they were real Death Eaters they wouldn't have cared if they'd had an audience they would've preffered it, but the people who did kill those poor children fled as soon as me, Harry, Ron and Ginny got there. It is a mystery, no-one knows what is happening any more.
Ever since the news that Voldemort has returned to power, there haven't been any Death Eater attacks, apart from the one in Hogsmeade, its weird that now when everyone knows he is back that he is keeping such a low profile. I would have thought that he would've attacked straight away while our defences were low, I don't know what is coming but it is really unsettled, like the calm before the storm. I have a really ominous feeling, its too quiet. I know something big is going to happen soon.
Herm*
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It was Halloween morning and Ron and Harry headed slowly down to the Great Hall together for a late breakfast. It was a Saturday and it was supposed to be the day of the second visit into Hogsmeade, but because of the attacks all students were to stay in Hogwarts. Ron and Harry entered the Hall through the dark oak doors and stared around in amazement. Although they had seen the Great Hall decorated for Halloween many times before, this year Dumbledore seemed to have gone all out with the decorations. There were the usual carved Pumpkin lanterns floating above the house tables, and the live bats flying around the ceiling. There were also skeletons that had been charmed to dance around the house tables, huge silvery cobwebs draped across the beams in the roof, that sparkled and shimmered, and bubbling cauldrons filled with a thick green liquid in the centre of each house table.
As Harry and Ron sat down towards the end of the Gryffindor table, where they usually sat, they noticed that Hermione and Ginny weren't yet in the hall for breakfast, which was unusual because they were usually always up before the boys.
''Hey Harry, where's Gin?'' Ron asked casually, as he picked up a piece of toast.
''I didn't sleep in with her last night, she said something about her and Herm needing to catch up.'' Harry replied.
''Oh right, I bet they spend all last night talking and now they're too tired to get up.'' Ron answered, he usually spent the night in with Hermione but last night he was so tired and dirty after Quidditch practice that he got to his room and collapsed on his bed, without even changing out of his Quidditch robes. Harry and Ron had been working extra hard in Quidditch practice lately as Harry had been named Quidditch captain, as he had been on the team the longest, so he was working them all very hard preparing for the upcoming match against Ravenclaw. Ron's practices with Nick, their Magical Maintenance teacher had benifited him greatly and he was now a very skilled Keeper who hardly ever let a shot get past him. Harry and Ron had decided that tryouts for the Gryffindor Quidditch team would be held the Saturday after Halloween, they needed two new beaters and two new Chasers.
''Yeah, what shall we do until they get up?'' Ron asked, not really bothered about what they did.
''I don't know, I thought maybe we could prepare the next DA meeting, we could have it on Monday then.'' Harry suggested hopefully.
''Great idea.'' was Ron's reply. The rest of the meal was spent in silence as Ron finished off his six pieces of toast and Harry sat silently watching him, wondering how it was possible to eat so much in one go.
It was coming up to lunch time, when Harry and Ron had finally finished decided which spells they were going to be learning in their next meeting, and setting up the room ready to hold all of Dumbledore's Army. They decided that they would be learning a spell that would shrink anything they aimed the spell at to the size of an orange.
''That's a great spell, how cool will it be to use that.'' Ron said excitedly as they walked down to the Great Hall to grab some lunch before they went to find Hermione and Ginny.
''I know, that'll be very useful.'' Harry said. ''Imagine using it on a bunch of Death Eaters and then running around stepping on them all.'' Harry was laughing madly as he said this to Ron and didn't notice the look that he was getting from Ron, not to mention several first years who looked positively terrified. Harry had thought alot about various ways of killing Death Eaters, it seemed that the more he thought about Sirius and his death and the more tears he wept, the stronger his resolve became to become an auror. He was determined to get everylast Death Eater locked away in Azkaban or killed.
''Harry........HARRY.'' Ron shouted at his friend, waving his hand madly in front of his face.
''Oh, what.....Sorry mate, spaced out there.'' Harry said, slipping out of his trance. ''Come on lets get some food I'm starving.''
Harry and Ron walked into the Great Hall and saw that Hermione and Ginny were sitting at the end of the Gryffindor table, chatting animatedly. They walked over and joined them, and they spent the rest of the day together down in Hagrids hut. Fortuately they didn't have to go and visit Hagrids brother although they were weighed down by many of Hagrid's rock cakes as they made their way back to their rooms to get ready for the annual Halloween feast that would be taking place that night.
''What are you wearing Gin?'' Hermione asked anxiously as she tried to decide between the tight bell bottomed jeans or the long denim skirt.
''My black trousers and my red top.'' Ginny said without hesitating, it seems that she had planned her outfit already. ''Wear the jeans Herm.'' she answered her friends unasked question, causing Hermione to smile and rush off to change.
Hermione and Ginny entered the common room half an hour later in their clothes that they had wanted to look as though they had just thrown on. Ginny was wearing her black cropped trousers and her red top, while Hermione was wearing her tight blue bell bottomed jeans and a baby blue tight t-shirt. They met with Harry, who was wearing dark green combat trousers and a tight black t-shirt, and Ron who was wearing baggy blue jeans and a tight white t-shirt: before all walking down into the Great Hall together.
As the four friends entered the Great Hall, they once again marvelled at the magnificent decorations, noticing how the silvery cobwebs seemed to sparkle even more brightly against the dark ceiling that was speckled with stars. Harry looked up at the teachers table and saw that Professor Golding was talking happily to Hagrid as usual, and that Snape sat staring around at all of the students sneering. Harry sometimes wondered whether sneering was the only look that Snape could do, until he saw him smile at his favourite student Malfoy who had walked into the Great Hall flanked as usual by Crabbe and Goyle.
The food that evening was, as usual brilliant. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny ate until they felt that they would burst, and that was without dessert. As the desserts got sent up from the kitchens, great towers of chocolate cake, replaced the piles of potatoes and tureens of soup. Mounds of ice cream in all flavours and heaps of chocolate covered the house tables that were groaning under the weight of all the extra food.
''Wow Dumbledore's gone all out this year hasn't he?'' Ron stated, while reaching for his second chocolate frog.
''Yeah, this is the best Halloween feast we've ever had.'' Ginny agreed.
''You know what guys I think that you are right.'' Harry added, filling his bowl for a second time with strawberry ice cream. ''This is the best Halloween ever.'' Hermione remained silent and just sat eating her chocolate cake, with a worried expression on her face. Why is everything so calm? Why isn't anyone worried? she thought to herself as she absent mindedly watched Ron start to devour another chocolate frog.
Once Harry had finished eating for that evening, he once again started to scan the teachers table, he saw that Professor Mcgonagall was absent from her usual place next to Dumbledore. Had she missed the whole fest, or had she just gone off somewhere? Harry wondered why he hadn't noticed that she was missing before, it was very unusual for Mcgonagall to miss any school events, she was always sat faithfully next to Dumbledore and her not being there today gave Harry a queasy feeling in the pit of his stomach, nothing good could come of this. Mcgonagall did not attend the feast, although no-one but Harry seemed to notice her absence, it was as Dumbledore dismissed all of the students that Harry noticed a very flustered looking Mcgonagall enter the Great Hall through a side door near the teachers table. Harry was starting to get very worried and wondered if he should say anything to Ginny, Ron or Hermione about it when Dumbledore saw him watching and gave him a small smile. This settled it if Dumbledore didn't seem to be worried then he shouldn't be, right? He told himself this but it did nothing to settle the uneasy feelings that were creeping up on him.
That night when everyone was safely in their common rooms, playing Wizards Chess or Exploding Snap getting ready for bed, Professors Mcgonogall and Dumbledore were having whispered discussions in the Hospital Wing, while watching Madam Pomfrey attend to the only occupied bed in the room.
''Oh Albus, what are we going to do?'' Mcgonagall asked, looking expectantly at Dumbledore, he always knew the answers to everything, surely he would be able to sort this out.
''I don't know Minerva.'' Dumbledore sighed sadly, the ever present twinkle in his eyes faded, replaced by a saddened look.
''But there must be something *you* can do.'' Mcgonagall said hopefully. ''The healers from St Mungos haven't managed and neither has Poppy, but surely you could do something Albus.''
''We have tried everything Minerva, all the usual spells haven't worked, this is some very powerful magic.'' Dumbledore stated pleadingly, he knew who was behind the powerful magic aswell, but why? That was the question that had been bothering him ever since he found out. Why?
''What shall we tell the students?'' Mcgonagall asked sombrely.
''What can we tell them, we don't know anything yet. I think it would be best if we have the prefects patrolling the corridors everynight though, for the students safety.'' Dumbledore said, deciding the time had come to place a higher level of security around Hogwarts, he never thought anything like this would be able to happen inside Hogwarts. ''We'll need to give the prefects their own rooms, so they will not disturb any other students when they return from their rounds. I will call a meeting of all the prefects and the Head boy and girl tomorrow to discuss these points further.'' Albus stopped noticing the disappointed look on Mcgonagall's face. ''Look Minerva, I know you thought I'd be able to help, but I can't this is powerful, ancient magic that hasn't been used for thousands of years there is nothing I can do to help right now, not without research, I'm sorry.''
''Ok Albus,'' Mcgonagall sighed. ''I'm going to go to bed now, it is after midnight and I have a
meeting tomorrow with Proffessor Flitwick. Goodnight.'' as Mcgonagall said this she turned and swept out of the hospital wing, trying to stifle her sobs. Dumbledore watched as her green cloak swept around the corner and she was out of sight, before he too left the Hospital Wing and it's sole patient to go and organise the rooms for the eight prefects from the sixth year and the eight from the seventh year, that they would be moving into the very next day.
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Harry awoke the next day with Ginny wrapped up tightly in his arms, he breathed in the scent of her cinammon shampoo and sighed, he loved that smell it was so, so Ginny. He lay there looking down onto her face for several minutes before deciding to head up to his room and grab a few things together and head for a quick shower before breakfast. He quietly got up out of Ginny's bed and tip toed out of her room and down the spiral staircase. He ran quickly across the common room and up the stairs to his bedroom. When he enetered the room, he immedeately noticed that Ron's bed was empty. Oh well, he thought to himself, he's probably in with Hermione. He looked across to his own bed that he rarely slept in and saw that there was a hastily scribbled note resting against his unused pillow.
*Hey Harry,
Dumbledore called an emergency prefects meeting, have no idea what it's about. Me and Mione will meet you and Gin later in the DA classroom.
Ron
P.S Bring me some food, we had to skip breakfast I'm starving.*
Harry put the note inside his drawer and headed towards the bathromm for his quick shower before going to wake Ginny up. However his plans were altered when he returned from the shower and saw Ginny sitting on her own in the common room writing in her diary. He instantaneously forgot all of his worries and concerns about the emergency prefects meeting, and all thoughts of meeting Ron were driven out of his head. Ginny was not aware that she was being watched, and she continued to write in her diary stopping momentarily to suck on the end of her quill as though deep in thought before ressuming writing once again. Feeling someones eyes watching her she stopped writing and shut her diary before turning to face the stairs that Harry was standing at watching her. She saw him and her heart skipped a beat, his hair was dripping wet and the droplets of water were falling down his face and onto his chest, he was carrying his shirt in his hands and he had on only a pair of jeans. When did he get so sexy, Ginny thought to herself, I mean sure I've always thought he was handsome but yum! She sauntered over to him and ran her hands up his chest, letting them come to rest in his dark hair she pressed herself up against his soaking body and kissed him hard on the lips, he didn't pull away instead his hands wrapped around her waist instinctively, pulling her closer to him, he started to kiss her softly on her neck, hearing her moan made him smile through his kisses and carry on. He knew that she loved it when he kissed her like that. She ran her hands through his wet hair, and moaned softly. He leaned back from the kiss and looked deep into her vivid green eyes.
''Well Good Morning to you too.''
''Morning baby. You look so sexy with your hair all wet and messed up.'' she said playfully.
''Well it wasn't messed up until I got down here and was ravaged by you.'' Harry replied, although he'd be the last to complain about being ravaged by Ginny Weasley.
''Harry, your hair is always messed up, whether you've been ravaged or not.'' she answered back laughing. ''Where are Ron and Herm, or don't I want to know?'' Ginny asked.
''They're in an emergency prefects meeting and we have to meet them in the DA room after the meeting.'' Harry replied, suddenly remembering about the nagging feeling he had that something wasn't right. ''What do you think the meeting was about?''
''I don't know, I hope it's nothing too serious though.'' Ginny answered shuddering. 'I don't want anything bad to happen Harry. Not now.''
''Me neither Gin, me neither. I've had enough bad things happen to me since I started at Hogwarts to last me a life time.'' Harry replied, putting his arm around Ginny's shoulder. ''Lets go get some breakfast and then we'll head up to the DA class to see what all the fuss is about. Oh and remind me to get extra food for Ron.'' Harry said changing the subject, he was probably just imagining things anyway, thinking the worst as always. But it still did nothing to ease the constant weight on his mind that something was wrong.
Up in the DA classroom, Harry and Ginny found a few ways to amuse themselves while the waited for Ron and Hermione returned. It was taking a lot longer than either of them had expected, and it was almost dinner time by the time that Ron and Hermione entered the DA classroom. Whilst they were waiting Harry pulled out his galleon that would be used to tell all DA members when the meeting was and set it so that all the members would know that the meeting was tomorrow.
''Hey Harry.'' Ron sighed exaustedly as he grabbed the four pieces of toast that Harry had gotten for him and flopped down onto a cushion to start to eat them.
''Hey, what was the meeting about?'' Harry asked, getting straight to the point, he wanted to settle the ominous feeling in his chest.
''Oh you'll never believe it Harry, it's awful, just terrible, i knew something was going to happen I could feel it. Oh God, what will we do?'' Hermione said hysterically, as Ron got up and walked over to her and hugged her to try and soothe her.
''Whats terrible Herm?'' Harry asked softly but Hermione couldn't answer she just carried on sobbing into Ron's chest as he rubbed her back comfortingly and muttered soothing words to her.
''There has been an attack.'' Ron said bluntly. ''On one of the Hogwarts students.''
''What like before, did they sneak out into Hogsmeade or something?'' Harry asked curiously, although he didn't think it was logical everyone he'd spoken to had insisted that they were never going to step foot outside of Hogwarts without sufficient protection.
''No Harry, not like before, the student hasn't been killed, there is a very strong and powerful charm placed on her and no-one knows what it is. Dumbledore says that it is ancient magic that was used by the ancient Egyptians over 5000 years ago. At least if it is the spell he thinks it is.'' Ron explained, as he carried on hugging Hermione even though her sobs were reduced to sniffles.
''So where was the person when this charm was placed on them?'' Harry asked thinking that he already knew the answer.
'That's the terrifying part.'' Ron replied. ''They were in Hogwarts Harry, in school and they were still attacked. Dumbledore said that either the spell was cast from outside the school and is powerful enough to penetrate the protective sheild around Hogwarts or, and this is the most likely possability that Voldemort has someone at Hogwarts.''
''Oh my God! This is terrible.'' Ginny wailed as she ran over to where Harry was standing and hugged him tightly. He lifted his arm and wrapped it around her shoulders, continuing to look at Ron, there was more to come he knew it.
''So why did Dumbledore tell you all this?'' Harry asked slowly.
''He thinks that, that the prefects should patrol the school every night to make sure that every thing is ok and that no students are out alone, or acting suspiciously at night.'' Ron explained.
''But what are the prefects going to be able to do. I mean against a Death Eater?'' Harry asked, questionning Dumbledores sanity not for the first time and he was sure it wouldn't be the last.
''I don't know Harry, to be honest with you I'm terrified.'' Ron admitted as he pulled Hermione closer to him, he was terrified, not for himself but for Hermione he had made a promise never to let her get hurt and he would do whatever it takes to keep that promise. ''Dumbledore has given us prefects our own private rooms, so that we don't disturb anyone on the way back from our patrols.'' Ron added, trying to add a positive side to the dark and sombre converstation.
''Really?'' Harry asked, not really interested but thinking that it was best that he spoke about it further with Ron when they were alone as Ginny and Hermione were getting very upset by it. ''Well lets go, we'd better help you guys move in.''
''Oh Harry that reminds me. On the way to our meeting me and Mione we....well...we got together properly. We are now officially boyfriend and girlfriend.'' Ron said smiling as Hermione squeezed his hand that she had grabbed when the boys were talking.
''Awww congratulations guys.'' Harry said sincerely, at least one good thing had happened today.
''Yeah well anyway, I was planning on sleeping in with Mione permanently, but when we found out we had our own rooms we thought that we could share Hermione's room and that......well.....you guys could share mine.'' Ron finished hopefully. ''You know if you want.''
''Oh Ron that'd be great wouldn't it Harry.'' Ginny gushed happily.
''Yeah, Thanks mate.'' Harry replied as he kissed Ginny on the cheek.
''Oh Ron your the best brother ever.'' Ginny squealed as she ran over to Ron and hugged him.
''Yeah ok whatever, just get off me, I'm not Harry you know.'' Ron squirmed awkwardly in his sisters tight hug, but he was smiling anyway.
The rest of that day was spent, moving into their new rooms. The rooms were situated close to Gryffindor common room, so that they would still be able to use the common room and see all their friends. The rooms were right next to each other and were connected by a corridor, there was a door in this corridor that lead off to a huge bathroom that was to be shared by all of them. It had a huge bath the size of a small swimming pool, many jewelled taps, the sort that Harry had seen in the prefects bathroom in his fourth year. It was decorated entirely in white mabel with gold, taps and sinks, and the towels that were stacked on a shelf were white and fluffy with gold patterns.
The room that Hermione were going to share, had a huge four poster bed that could have easily held all four of the comfortably, the bedspread was thick red and soft and the curtains that hung around the bed were made of a thick sumptuious velvet. There was a bookshelf that held over a hundred books, much to Hermione's delight and there was also a desk and a couch that faced an open fireplace. Harry and Ginny's romm was an exact double of Hermione and Ron's. It took them all day to move their things into the rooms and settle in properly, befor ethey eventually went down to the Great Hall for dinner.
After they had had their food and chatted about everything apart from the attack on the Hogwarts student, Hermione and Ginny went back to their new rooms to put the finishing touches on them. Leaving Ron and Harry alone, they decided to go to the Library so that they could talk privately. Ron knew he was about to be bombarded with questions that Harry had been saving up all day but he agreed to go anyway. When they reached the Library they sat right at the back, hidden between the huge rows of books, where they knew they could talk without being overheard.
''What charm has been placed on the girl then?'' Harry asked Ron as soon as they had sat down.
''I don't know, Dumbledore doesn't even know what it is yet, he could only guess.'' Ron told Harry in a whisper.
''Who else knows about this attack?''
''All the teachers, Mcgonagall found her. All the prefects, the head boy and girl and you and Ginny.'' Ron said, mentally checkling off all the people who knew.
''Mcgonagall found her, so that's why she wasn't at the feast yesterday.'' Harry said thinking outloud. ''Who is the girl?''
''Her name is Kim Monietta, she is in Ravenclaw. A second year.'' He added, answering Harry's next question without it being asked.
''Why her?'' Harry asked, trying to process all the new information and search for a link. ''Was she muggle born.''
''No pure blood, why do you ask?''
''Well I thought that Voldemort might be trying to rid Hogwarts of all muggleborns again. I'm trying to think of why she was attacked.''
''I don't know, no-one does. She is a pure blood, her family can be traced back for generations. Hers is one of the only remaining pure blood families left in Britain.'' Ron said, repeating everything Dumbledore had told them at the meeting that morning.
''But then why her?'' Harry asked, totally confused. ''I thought Voldemort loved pure bloods.''
''Only ones on his side, maybe her family is totally againt him. Hell her parents may even be in the order.'' Ron said. ''It's not like we'd know, it' so secret. That's probably it, her parents are in the order and Voldemort found out.''
''If that's the case why didn't he just kill them, why charm their daughter. No it doesn't make sense. There is something bigger behind this, he's done it for a reason.'' Harry said gravely. Ron sighed heavily.
''You know what this means?''
''What?'' Harry asked slowly.
''We've got to tell everyone in the DA.'' Ron explained.
''Why?'' asked Harry curiously, almost angrily.
''Because, they stuck by you when everyone thought you were mad. They have a right to know if they are in danger in their own school. You owe it to them Harry, we all need to be prepared.''
''You're right Ron, they deserve to know, and if Dumbledores not going to tell them I will. I'll do it in the meeting tomorrow.'' Harry stated firmly. It was time like this when he was glad he had Ron as a best friend. ''But right now, I am going to go to bed with my beautiful girlfriend.'' Harry finished trying to lighten the mood.
''Sounds good to me, I think I'll do the same.'' Ron replied happily.
''I'm really happy that you and Herm are togther finally. You are perfect together.'' Harry said to Ron as they left the Library together.
''Thanks mate, so are you and Gin.'' came his friends reply. They walked in silence until they finally parted company at the entrance to their rooms and they both entered their new rooms to go to sleep with their girlfriends.
(A.N Thanks 2 everyone who has been reviewing I really appreciate it. The story is no where near over yet, I have a lot of things planned out for 6th year. Hope you enjoyed. Love ya ice princess xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
CALM BEFORE THE STORM
*Dear Diary,
It is now the day before Halloween and I am sitting here alone in my room waiting for Ron to get back from Quiditch practice. Everything is working out with us now, I really think he is the one. We aren't even officially together yet but we may as well be, we are together most of the time and although all we have done is kiss so far I can tell that I am ready to go further with him. Ginny and Harry are doing great too, they sleep in the same bed every night and although Ginny tells me that they haen't done anything yet I really think that she wants too. I'm not saying she's easy or anything its just that she loves Harry with all her heart and wants to show him just how special he is to her. Speaking of sleeping in the same rooms, Ron has been sleeping in with me most nights as well, it feels great to cuddle up with him and fall to sleep in his arms.
I feel alot better now than I did on the night of the attacks in Hogsmeade, partly because I have Ron now, and he swears he'll keep me safe no matter what. But the weird thing is that, not a trace of the Death Eaters can be found. Dumbledore has even suggested that they weren't even real Death Eaters, just copy cats because they didn't sent the Dark Mark into the sky and also if they were real Death Eaters they wouldn't have cared if they'd had an audience they would've preffered it, but the people who did kill those poor children fled as soon as me, Harry, Ron and Ginny got there. It is a mystery, no-one knows what is happening any more.
Ever since the news that Voldemort has returned to power, there haven't been any Death Eater attacks, apart from the one in Hogsmeade, its weird that now when everyone knows he is back that he is keeping such a low profile. I would have thought that he would've attacked straight away while our defences were low, I don't know what is coming but it is really unsettled, like the calm before the storm. I have a really ominous feeling, its too quiet. I know something big is going to happen soon.
Herm*
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It was Halloween morning and Ron and Harry headed slowly down to the Great Hall together for a late breakfast. It was a Saturday and it was supposed to be the day of the second visit into Hogsmeade, but because of the attacks all students were to stay in Hogwarts. Ron and Harry entered the Hall through the dark oak doors and stared around in amazement. Although they had seen the Great Hall decorated for Halloween many times before, this year Dumbledore seemed to have gone all out with the decorations. There were the usual carved Pumpkin lanterns floating above the house tables, and the live bats flying around the ceiling. There were also skeletons that had been charmed to dance around the house tables, huge silvery cobwebs draped across the beams in the roof, that sparkled and shimmered, and bubbling cauldrons filled with a thick green liquid in the centre of each house table.
As Harry and Ron sat down towards the end of the Gryffindor table, where they usually sat, they noticed that Hermione and Ginny weren't yet in the hall for breakfast, which was unusual because they were usually always up before the boys.
''Hey Harry, where's Gin?'' Ron asked casually, as he picked up a piece of toast.
''I didn't sleep in with her last night, she said something about her and Herm needing to catch up.'' Harry replied.
''Oh right, I bet they spend all last night talking and now they're too tired to get up.'' Ron answered, he usually spent the night in with Hermione but last night he was so tired and dirty after Quidditch practice that he got to his room and collapsed on his bed, without even changing out of his Quidditch robes. Harry and Ron had been working extra hard in Quidditch practice lately as Harry had been named Quidditch captain, as he had been on the team the longest, so he was working them all very hard preparing for the upcoming match against Ravenclaw. Ron's practices with Nick, their Magical Maintenance teacher had benifited him greatly and he was now a very skilled Keeper who hardly ever let a shot get past him. Harry and Ron had decided that tryouts for the Gryffindor Quidditch team would be held the Saturday after Halloween, they needed two new beaters and two new Chasers.
''Yeah, what shall we do until they get up?'' Ron asked, not really bothered about what they did.
''I don't know, I thought maybe we could prepare the next DA meeting, we could have it on Monday then.'' Harry suggested hopefully.
''Great idea.'' was Ron's reply. The rest of the meal was spent in silence as Ron finished off his six pieces of toast and Harry sat silently watching him, wondering how it was possible to eat so much in one go.
It was coming up to lunch time, when Harry and Ron had finally finished decided which spells they were going to be learning in their next meeting, and setting up the room ready to hold all of Dumbledore's Army. They decided that they would be learning a spell that would shrink anything they aimed the spell at to the size of an orange.
''That's a great spell, how cool will it be to use that.'' Ron said excitedly as they walked down to the Great Hall to grab some lunch before they went to find Hermione and Ginny.
''I know, that'll be very useful.'' Harry said. ''Imagine using it on a bunch of Death Eaters and then running around stepping on them all.'' Harry was laughing madly as he said this to Ron and didn't notice the look that he was getting from Ron, not to mention several first years who looked positively terrified. Harry had thought alot about various ways of killing Death Eaters, it seemed that the more he thought about Sirius and his death and the more tears he wept, the stronger his resolve became to become an auror. He was determined to get everylast Death Eater locked away in Azkaban or killed.
''Harry........HARRY.'' Ron shouted at his friend, waving his hand madly in front of his face.
''Oh, what.....Sorry mate, spaced out there.'' Harry said, slipping out of his trance. ''Come on lets get some food I'm starving.''
Harry and Ron walked into the Great Hall and saw that Hermione and Ginny were sitting at the end of the Gryffindor table, chatting animatedly. They walked over and joined them, and they spent the rest of the day together down in Hagrids hut. Fortuately they didn't have to go and visit Hagrids brother although they were weighed down by many of Hagrid's rock cakes as they made their way back to their rooms to get ready for the annual Halloween feast that would be taking place that night.
''What are you wearing Gin?'' Hermione asked anxiously as she tried to decide between the tight bell bottomed jeans or the long denim skirt.
''My black trousers and my red top.'' Ginny said without hesitating, it seems that she had planned her outfit already. ''Wear the jeans Herm.'' she answered her friends unasked question, causing Hermione to smile and rush off to change.
Hermione and Ginny entered the common room half an hour later in their clothes that they had wanted to look as though they had just thrown on. Ginny was wearing her black cropped trousers and her red top, while Hermione was wearing her tight blue bell bottomed jeans and a baby blue tight t-shirt. They met with Harry, who was wearing dark green combat trousers and a tight black t-shirt, and Ron who was wearing baggy blue jeans and a tight white t-shirt: before all walking down into the Great Hall together.
As the four friends entered the Great Hall, they once again marvelled at the magnificent decorations, noticing how the silvery cobwebs seemed to sparkle even more brightly against the dark ceiling that was speckled with stars. Harry looked up at the teachers table and saw that Professor Golding was talking happily to Hagrid as usual, and that Snape sat staring around at all of the students sneering. Harry sometimes wondered whether sneering was the only look that Snape could do, until he saw him smile at his favourite student Malfoy who had walked into the Great Hall flanked as usual by Crabbe and Goyle.
The food that evening was, as usual brilliant. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny ate until they felt that they would burst, and that was without dessert. As the desserts got sent up from the kitchens, great towers of chocolate cake, replaced the piles of potatoes and tureens of soup. Mounds of ice cream in all flavours and heaps of chocolate covered the house tables that were groaning under the weight of all the extra food.
''Wow Dumbledore's gone all out this year hasn't he?'' Ron stated, while reaching for his second chocolate frog.
''Yeah, this is the best Halloween feast we've ever had.'' Ginny agreed.
''You know what guys I think that you are right.'' Harry added, filling his bowl for a second time with strawberry ice cream. ''This is the best Halloween ever.'' Hermione remained silent and just sat eating her chocolate cake, with a worried expression on her face. Why is everything so calm? Why isn't anyone worried? she thought to herself as she absent mindedly watched Ron start to devour another chocolate frog.
Once Harry had finished eating for that evening, he once again started to scan the teachers table, he saw that Professor Mcgonagall was absent from her usual place next to Dumbledore. Had she missed the whole fest, or had she just gone off somewhere? Harry wondered why he hadn't noticed that she was missing before, it was very unusual for Mcgonagall to miss any school events, she was always sat faithfully next to Dumbledore and her not being there today gave Harry a queasy feeling in the pit of his stomach, nothing good could come of this. Mcgonagall did not attend the feast, although no-one but Harry seemed to notice her absence, it was as Dumbledore dismissed all of the students that Harry noticed a very flustered looking Mcgonagall enter the Great Hall through a side door near the teachers table. Harry was starting to get very worried and wondered if he should say anything to Ginny, Ron or Hermione about it when Dumbledore saw him watching and gave him a small smile. This settled it if Dumbledore didn't seem to be worried then he shouldn't be, right? He told himself this but it did nothing to settle the uneasy feelings that were creeping up on him.
That night when everyone was safely in their common rooms, playing Wizards Chess or Exploding Snap getting ready for bed, Professors Mcgonogall and Dumbledore were having whispered discussions in the Hospital Wing, while watching Madam Pomfrey attend to the only occupied bed in the room.
''Oh Albus, what are we going to do?'' Mcgonagall asked, looking expectantly at Dumbledore, he always knew the answers to everything, surely he would be able to sort this out.
''I don't know Minerva.'' Dumbledore sighed sadly, the ever present twinkle in his eyes faded, replaced by a saddened look.
''But there must be something *you* can do.'' Mcgonagall said hopefully. ''The healers from St Mungos haven't managed and neither has Poppy, but surely you could do something Albus.''
''We have tried everything Minerva, all the usual spells haven't worked, this is some very powerful magic.'' Dumbledore stated pleadingly, he knew who was behind the powerful magic aswell, but why? That was the question that had been bothering him ever since he found out. Why?
''What shall we tell the students?'' Mcgonagall asked sombrely.
''What can we tell them, we don't know anything yet. I think it would be best if we have the prefects patrolling the corridors everynight though, for the students safety.'' Dumbledore said, deciding the time had come to place a higher level of security around Hogwarts, he never thought anything like this would be able to happen inside Hogwarts. ''We'll need to give the prefects their own rooms, so they will not disturb any other students when they return from their rounds. I will call a meeting of all the prefects and the Head boy and girl tomorrow to discuss these points further.'' Albus stopped noticing the disappointed look on Mcgonagall's face. ''Look Minerva, I know you thought I'd be able to help, but I can't this is powerful, ancient magic that hasn't been used for thousands of years there is nothing I can do to help right now, not without research, I'm sorry.''
''Ok Albus,'' Mcgonagall sighed. ''I'm going to go to bed now, it is after midnight and I have a
meeting tomorrow with Proffessor Flitwick. Goodnight.'' as Mcgonagall said this she turned and swept out of the hospital wing, trying to stifle her sobs. Dumbledore watched as her green cloak swept around the corner and she was out of sight, before he too left the Hospital Wing and it's sole patient to go and organise the rooms for the eight prefects from the sixth year and the eight from the seventh year, that they would be moving into the very next day.
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Harry awoke the next day with Ginny wrapped up tightly in his arms, he breathed in the scent of her cinammon shampoo and sighed, he loved that smell it was so, so Ginny. He lay there looking down onto her face for several minutes before deciding to head up to his room and grab a few things together and head for a quick shower before breakfast. He quietly got up out of Ginny's bed and tip toed out of her room and down the spiral staircase. He ran quickly across the common room and up the stairs to his bedroom. When he enetered the room, he immedeately noticed that Ron's bed was empty. Oh well, he thought to himself, he's probably in with Hermione. He looked across to his own bed that he rarely slept in and saw that there was a hastily scribbled note resting against his unused pillow.
*Hey Harry,
Dumbledore called an emergency prefects meeting, have no idea what it's about. Me and Mione will meet you and Gin later in the DA classroom.
Ron
P.S Bring me some food, we had to skip breakfast I'm starving.*
Harry put the note inside his drawer and headed towards the bathromm for his quick shower before going to wake Ginny up. However his plans were altered when he returned from the shower and saw Ginny sitting on her own in the common room writing in her diary. He instantaneously forgot all of his worries and concerns about the emergency prefects meeting, and all thoughts of meeting Ron were driven out of his head. Ginny was not aware that she was being watched, and she continued to write in her diary stopping momentarily to suck on the end of her quill as though deep in thought before ressuming writing once again. Feeling someones eyes watching her she stopped writing and shut her diary before turning to face the stairs that Harry was standing at watching her. She saw him and her heart skipped a beat, his hair was dripping wet and the droplets of water were falling down his face and onto his chest, he was carrying his shirt in his hands and he had on only a pair of jeans. When did he get so sexy, Ginny thought to herself, I mean sure I've always thought he was handsome but yum! She sauntered over to him and ran her hands up his chest, letting them come to rest in his dark hair she pressed herself up against his soaking body and kissed him hard on the lips, he didn't pull away instead his hands wrapped around her waist instinctively, pulling her closer to him, he started to kiss her softly on her neck, hearing her moan made him smile through his kisses and carry on. He knew that she loved it when he kissed her like that. She ran her hands through his wet hair, and moaned softly. He leaned back from the kiss and looked deep into her vivid green eyes.
''Well Good Morning to you too.''
''Morning baby. You look so sexy with your hair all wet and messed up.'' she said playfully.
''Well it wasn't messed up until I got down here and was ravaged by you.'' Harry replied, although he'd be the last to complain about being ravaged by Ginny Weasley.
''Harry, your hair is always messed up, whether you've been ravaged or not.'' she answered back laughing. ''Where are Ron and Herm, or don't I want to know?'' Ginny asked.
''They're in an emergency prefects meeting and we have to meet them in the DA room after the meeting.'' Harry replied, suddenly remembering about the nagging feeling he had that something wasn't right. ''What do you think the meeting was about?''
''I don't know, I hope it's nothing too serious though.'' Ginny answered shuddering. 'I don't want anything bad to happen Harry. Not now.''
''Me neither Gin, me neither. I've had enough bad things happen to me since I started at Hogwarts to last me a life time.'' Harry replied, putting his arm around Ginny's shoulder. ''Lets go get some breakfast and then we'll head up to the DA class to see what all the fuss is about. Oh and remind me to get extra food for Ron.'' Harry said changing the subject, he was probably just imagining things anyway, thinking the worst as always. But it still did nothing to ease the constant weight on his mind that something was wrong.
Up in the DA classroom, Harry and Ginny found a few ways to amuse themselves while the waited for Ron and Hermione returned. It was taking a lot longer than either of them had expected, and it was almost dinner time by the time that Ron and Hermione entered the DA classroom. Whilst they were waiting Harry pulled out his galleon that would be used to tell all DA members when the meeting was and set it so that all the members would know that the meeting was tomorrow.
''Hey Harry.'' Ron sighed exaustedly as he grabbed the four pieces of toast that Harry had gotten for him and flopped down onto a cushion to start to eat them.
''Hey, what was the meeting about?'' Harry asked, getting straight to the point, he wanted to settle the ominous feeling in his chest.
''Oh you'll never believe it Harry, it's awful, just terrible, i knew something was going to happen I could feel it. Oh God, what will we do?'' Hermione said hysterically, as Ron got up and walked over to her and hugged her to try and soothe her.
''Whats terrible Herm?'' Harry asked softly but Hermione couldn't answer she just carried on sobbing into Ron's chest as he rubbed her back comfortingly and muttered soothing words to her.
''There has been an attack.'' Ron said bluntly. ''On one of the Hogwarts students.''
''What like before, did they sneak out into Hogsmeade or something?'' Harry asked curiously, although he didn't think it was logical everyone he'd spoken to had insisted that they were never going to step foot outside of Hogwarts without sufficient protection.
''No Harry, not like before, the student hasn't been killed, there is a very strong and powerful charm placed on her and no-one knows what it is. Dumbledore says that it is ancient magic that was used by the ancient Egyptians over 5000 years ago. At least if it is the spell he thinks it is.'' Ron explained, as he carried on hugging Hermione even though her sobs were reduced to sniffles.
''So where was the person when this charm was placed on them?'' Harry asked thinking that he already knew the answer.
'That's the terrifying part.'' Ron replied. ''They were in Hogwarts Harry, in school and they were still attacked. Dumbledore said that either the spell was cast from outside the school and is powerful enough to penetrate the protective sheild around Hogwarts or, and this is the most likely possability that Voldemort has someone at Hogwarts.''
''Oh my God! This is terrible.'' Ginny wailed as she ran over to where Harry was standing and hugged him tightly. He lifted his arm and wrapped it around her shoulders, continuing to look at Ron, there was more to come he knew it.
''So why did Dumbledore tell you all this?'' Harry asked slowly.
''He thinks that, that the prefects should patrol the school every night to make sure that every thing is ok and that no students are out alone, or acting suspiciously at night.'' Ron explained.
''But what are the prefects going to be able to do. I mean against a Death Eater?'' Harry asked, questionning Dumbledores sanity not for the first time and he was sure it wouldn't be the last.
''I don't know Harry, to be honest with you I'm terrified.'' Ron admitted as he pulled Hermione closer to him, he was terrified, not for himself but for Hermione he had made a promise never to let her get hurt and he would do whatever it takes to keep that promise. ''Dumbledore has given us prefects our own private rooms, so that we don't disturb anyone on the way back from our patrols.'' Ron added, trying to add a positive side to the dark and sombre converstation.
''Really?'' Harry asked, not really interested but thinking that it was best that he spoke about it further with Ron when they were alone as Ginny and Hermione were getting very upset by it. ''Well lets go, we'd better help you guys move in.''
''Oh Harry that reminds me. On the way to our meeting me and Mione we....well...we got together properly. We are now officially boyfriend and girlfriend.'' Ron said smiling as Hermione squeezed his hand that she had grabbed when the boys were talking.
''Awww congratulations guys.'' Harry said sincerely, at least one good thing had happened today.
''Yeah well anyway, I was planning on sleeping in with Mione permanently, but when we found out we had our own rooms we thought that we could share Hermione's room and that......well.....you guys could share mine.'' Ron finished hopefully. ''You know if you want.''
''Oh Ron that'd be great wouldn't it Harry.'' Ginny gushed happily.
''Yeah, Thanks mate.'' Harry replied as he kissed Ginny on the cheek.
''Oh Ron your the best brother ever.'' Ginny squealed as she ran over to Ron and hugged him.
''Yeah ok whatever, just get off me, I'm not Harry you know.'' Ron squirmed awkwardly in his sisters tight hug, but he was smiling anyway.
The rest of that day was spent, moving into their new rooms. The rooms were situated close to Gryffindor common room, so that they would still be able to use the common room and see all their friends. The rooms were right next to each other and were connected by a corridor, there was a door in this corridor that lead off to a huge bathroom that was to be shared by all of them. It had a huge bath the size of a small swimming pool, many jewelled taps, the sort that Harry had seen in the prefects bathroom in his fourth year. It was decorated entirely in white mabel with gold, taps and sinks, and the towels that were stacked on a shelf were white and fluffy with gold patterns.
The room that Hermione were going to share, had a huge four poster bed that could have easily held all four of the comfortably, the bedspread was thick red and soft and the curtains that hung around the bed were made of a thick sumptuious velvet. There was a bookshelf that held over a hundred books, much to Hermione's delight and there was also a desk and a couch that faced an open fireplace. Harry and Ginny's romm was an exact double of Hermione and Ron's. It took them all day to move their things into the rooms and settle in properly, befor ethey eventually went down to the Great Hall for dinner.
After they had had their food and chatted about everything apart from the attack on the Hogwarts student, Hermione and Ginny went back to their new rooms to put the finishing touches on them. Leaving Ron and Harry alone, they decided to go to the Library so that they could talk privately. Ron knew he was about to be bombarded with questions that Harry had been saving up all day but he agreed to go anyway. When they reached the Library they sat right at the back, hidden between the huge rows of books, where they knew they could talk without being overheard.
''What charm has been placed on the girl then?'' Harry asked Ron as soon as they had sat down.
''I don't know, Dumbledore doesn't even know what it is yet, he could only guess.'' Ron told Harry in a whisper.
''Who else knows about this attack?''
''All the teachers, Mcgonagall found her. All the prefects, the head boy and girl and you and Ginny.'' Ron said, mentally checkling off all the people who knew.
''Mcgonagall found her, so that's why she wasn't at the feast yesterday.'' Harry said thinking outloud. ''Who is the girl?''
''Her name is Kim Monietta, she is in Ravenclaw. A second year.'' He added, answering Harry's next question without it being asked.
''Why her?'' Harry asked, trying to process all the new information and search for a link. ''Was she muggle born.''
''No pure blood, why do you ask?''
''Well I thought that Voldemort might be trying to rid Hogwarts of all muggleborns again. I'm trying to think of why she was attacked.''
''I don't know, no-one does. She is a pure blood, her family can be traced back for generations. Hers is one of the only remaining pure blood families left in Britain.'' Ron said, repeating everything Dumbledore had told them at the meeting that morning.
''But then why her?'' Harry asked, totally confused. ''I thought Voldemort loved pure bloods.''
''Only ones on his side, maybe her family is totally againt him. Hell her parents may even be in the order.'' Ron said. ''It's not like we'd know, it' so secret. That's probably it, her parents are in the order and Voldemort found out.''
''If that's the case why didn't he just kill them, why charm their daughter. No it doesn't make sense. There is something bigger behind this, he's done it for a reason.'' Harry said gravely. Ron sighed heavily.
''You know what this means?''
''What?'' Harry asked slowly.
''We've got to tell everyone in the DA.'' Ron explained.
''Why?'' asked Harry curiously, almost angrily.
''Because, they stuck by you when everyone thought you were mad. They have a right to know if they are in danger in their own school. You owe it to them Harry, we all need to be prepared.''
''You're right Ron, they deserve to know, and if Dumbledores not going to tell them I will. I'll do it in the meeting tomorrow.'' Harry stated firmly. It was time like this when he was glad he had Ron as a best friend. ''But right now, I am going to go to bed with my beautiful girlfriend.'' Harry finished trying to lighten the mood.
''Sounds good to me, I think I'll do the same.'' Ron replied happily.
''I'm really happy that you and Herm are togther finally. You are perfect together.'' Harry said to Ron as they left the Library together.
''Thanks mate, so are you and Gin.'' came his friends reply. They walked in silence until they finally parted company at the entrance to their rooms and they both entered their new rooms to go to sleep with their girlfriends.
(A.N Thanks 2 everyone who has been reviewing I really appreciate it. The story is no where near over yet, I have a lot of things planned out for 6th year. Hope you enjoyed. Love ya ice princess xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
